Page 100 of Only You

“Kayla and I have always been close, but living together made me realize that I felt more than friendship for her,” Jack insisted.

“Does she feel the same way?” Eileen asked. Her voice was flat.

“Yes. We admitted our feelings to each other a few days ago.”

“A few days ago? What else have you been hiding?” John said accusingly.

“Nothing. I promise,” Jack said.

“Who else was in on this ruse?” Eileen asked.

Jack squirmed uncomfortably, expecting things were about to worsen. “Only a few other people know.”

“What people?” John asked.

Jack sucked in his lower lip. “Ryan, Josie, and Kayla’s parents.” The second he said it, he realized how horrible it sounded.

Eileen sniffed. “Kayla’s parents knew about this too.”

“Well, aren’t we the fools,” John muttered. He rose abruptly and started walking away.

“Where are you going?” Eileen asked, sounding distraught.

“I’m not going to sit here and listen to any more of this,” John said.

“I came here to apologize,” Jack said.

“It’s a little too late for that.” With that, John stalked down the hallway. A moment later, a door slammed.

Eileen sighed. “How could you do this to us?”

Jack hung his head. “I’m sorry, Mom. I really am.”

“I can’t believe you thought we were that desperate for you to get married and have children. All we ever wanted is for you to be happy.”

“I am happy!” Only now, his parents didn’t share his happiness. Lying to them was the biggest mistake he’d ever made.

“I can’t believe Kayla was in on this. We really liked her,” Eileen said, sniffling.

“She likes you too, Mom. She hated lying to you, but she did it for me. It sounds terrible now, but her heart was in the right place.” Jack might as well be trying to convince the walls.

Eileen shook her head. “I agree with your dad. A relationship that starts out with a lie is like building a house without a solid foundation.”

“Mom—”

Eileen stood. “I think you should leave, Jack.”

“But—”

“I’ll call you when we’re ready to talk again.” Eileen left the room and went down the hallway to join her husband.

Baffled, Jack sat there for a few minutes. Any hope he’d had of using humor to diffuse the situation had vanished. His parents were truly disgusted with him. Even worse, they blamed Kayla, too. He hated that the most. Finally, Jack left, realizing there was nothing more he could do until his parents were ready to talk.

As he drove away, his head spun with negative thoughts. He hated the hurt he’d caused, and that he’d roped other people into his deception. Ironically, if he hadn’t confessed, his parents would still be happy right now. Instead, his honesty had hurt the people he loved the most.

Instead of driving straight home, Jack went to Ryan’s apartment. Since Josie was with Kayla, he figured Ryan might be home, and he was right. Jack pulled up next to Ryan’s truck and went up to the apartment entrance. In the vestibule, he pressed the buzzer for Ryan’s unit.

“I don’t want any,” Ryan grumbled over the intercom.